9 helpful ways to prepare your child for a new baby

I still remember holding a pregnancy test and seeing two lines in it. I was overflown with joy and excitement not only because I wanted to get pregnant again but because my daughter was going to finally have a little brother or sister to play with. My mission from that day on was to help prepare my child for a new baby. I wanted her to be happy and excited about her new sibling!

She was my little confidant and best friend (still is, now I have three!). I knew that this was going to make her happy! In order to help our daughter cope with the idea of being being a big sister, my hubby and I would talk to our daughter about the new addition to our family. We wanted to make her comfortable and excited just as we were. We asked her questions and we even asked her what she was hoping for, a baby brother or a baby sister.

To our surprise we found out we were having twins! One thing that happened that really got me thinking and preparing my child for the new babies was when she told me that she didn’t want to have a brother or a sister anymore. She would tell my hubby and I that she was going to flush her little brother down the toilet and things of that nature. Some days she didn’t want to have a sister, some days she didn’t want a brother and there were days she didn’t want neither.

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I know that many parents have to go through this situation. I know many want to avoid this negative response. One thing is for sure, that it will pass and your child will be happy and excited to have a new sibling! I promise! These tips are crucial in preparing your oldest child for a new baby. I hope you find them helpful 🙂

9 helpful ways to prepare your child for a new baby

Have communication with your child the minute that you find out that you are pregnant. Let your child know about the cool things that happens once her little brother or sister arrives. Being a big brother or sister is such a unique responsibility to have and your child should feel special.

Share some examples with your child of the things he will be doing as an older sibling. For example, your child can read(if he can) to the new baby and he can teach their baby sibling things. Let your child know that he will have a best friend forever, which I think it’s awesome.

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I took my daughter to every doctor appointment I had. It’s a great way to build the bond between them even before the baby arrives. Involve your child and show him your sonogram. You can the point out the baby’s toes, fingers, head if it’s noticeable and tell your child that the baby is developing in your belly.

My daughter would get so excitement every time I would tell her that we were going to the doctor to see her little brother and sister. I think it’s such a great way to prepare your child for a new baby if you take him to your doctors appointments.

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Do not leave your child out when you are planning your gender reveal party (if you’re having one).Include your child in picking out the colors, give your child options to chose from regarding how you want to reveal the sex of your new baby. This will make your child feel included and happy that he is helping you decide in important things of your pregnancy.

4. Ask your child quetions

Always ask your child how he feels about the upcoming arrival of their new baby sibling. Ask your child if he is happy, what are their worries, and so on. You need to know how your child feels and help them be happy about it and not sad or confused. Always have an open communication even if your child is too little to understand.

5.Include your child in the baby naming decision

What a fun way to help your child cope with a new baby by including them in the baby naming process. Again, give your child options and ask if they like this name or the other. It’s a great way to make your child feel special by including them in the baby naming decicion.

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Have a baby shopping day with your child and let him help you in pick out a few outfits for the new baby. Ask your child if they think the baby will like this color or that color blanket. If he thinks his baby brother or sister will want a bear blanket or a giraffe blanket, etc. Always, always include your child in fun things like shopping for baby’s clothes, toys, blankets and other baby products.

When you feel your baby moving is such a beautiful experience that you must let your child experience it too. Call your child over when you feel your baby kicking and grab his hands and place it over your belly. Your child is going to be amazed and so excited!

Let your child know that the baby is kicking because she or he loves their big brother. You can even ask your child if they love the baby too. This will make them see that their baby brother or sister loves them and that becoming a big brother is not bad afterall.

You can find fun ways to bond with your child by doing a belly cast and belly painting! I did it and it was so much fun! Here’s the top rated ones from Amazon:

8. Tell your child he is going to be your helper

A great way to prepare your child for a new sibling and to get them excited about it, is to let your child know that when the baby comes, they will be your number one little helper. Explain what being mommy’s little helper mean and what sort of fun things they will be helping you with.

For example, your child can help you with bath time, picking out an outfit for the baby to wear and so on.

9.Assure your child that your love will not change

The most important thing to do while preparing your child for a new baby is to assure your child that you will always love them and care for them, the same way once the baby is born. Let your child know that nothing is going to change the fact that he is still your baby. That having a new baby just means more love going around. Your child needs to know that things will not change so much because things do change, but the love you have for your child will not.

Having a new baby is so exciting! Whether it’s your second, third or fourth. Many children can get jealous because they think you won’t love them the same or things are going to change. But it’s your job as a parent to assure to your child that you love them and that things are going to change but for the better!

These tips are so helpful and will guide you in the right direction on how to prepare your toddler or oldest child for a new baby. These tips are going to help your child adjust to the idea of being an older sibling and how fun it is going to be.

Always include your child in the fun things of being pregnant. Like baby shopping, baby shower, gender reveal planning and sonogram appointments. I hope you found these tips helpful and if you did, don’t forget to share it with your friends!

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Comments

This is great advice! I think the most important thing is to just ensure the child that they are still going to be just as important and that you love them. My boys are 20 months apart but are absolute best buds and it is so sweet to watch!Cara recently posted…March Confessions

We had very similar experiences—my eldest son was also three when I had our twins! He didn’t verbalize his emotions but he sure acted them out, both during the last stages of my pregnancy (when I was so not able to do anything) to when the twins arrived. These tips are great, and I agree that children should know we always love them even if things get hectic for a while!

I seriously love all these tips! My son was only 10-months-old when we found out I was pregnant, but next time around it will be fun because he’ll understand what’s going on!Chelsea @ Life With My Littles recently posted…The Ultimate List of What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

Thank you Chelsea!yeah at 10 months old they are still babies and don’t really understand. Ooh that means baby #3 is in the works?? Haha! Well when you get pregnant your kids will definitely help you with all the fun stuff!

These are really good suggestions. I could have used them prior to having my second child. I’m going to share these suggestions with friends of mine who are planning for additional children. I love the idea of taking the older sibling to the doctors appointments.

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